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US key Obesity and Overweight figures
– Reported, July 09, 2012
The estimated annual cost of obesity and overweight in the U.S. is about $117 billion
The percentage of young people who are overweight has doubled in the last 20 years
More than one-third of young people do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity
Many diseases can be caused and can be worsened by poor diet and lack of exercise. Such diseases account for more than 60% of U. S. medical care expenses yearly.
If your old habits of grabbing fast food at lunch, munching on popcorn at the movies, and drinking soda pop daily are starting to pack pounds onto your body, don’t be surprisedyou aren’t alone. Obesity among young women in the United States is becoming an issue of serious concern.
Obesity can foster poor self-esteem and pave the way for eating disorders. In addition, young women who are losing the battle with the scale are potentially setting themselves up for future health problems down the line, such as heart disease, stroke, Type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
You are never too young, too overweight, or too busy to make vital changes in your lifestyle that will help you lose or maintain weight. In addition, positive lifestyle changes can help you live a longer, healthier, more productive life.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 60 percent of young people eat too much fat and that less than 20 percent of them eat the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables per day. What does this have to do with weight loss or weight maintenance? Everything! According to Dr. Wax, one of the essential actions to take in creating a healthier diet is to replace simple carbohydrates (such as sugars and simple starches) and fats with complex carbohydrates and fiber. That means eating more foods like wheat bread, bran cereal, oatmeal, and brown rice.
In addition to reducing your intake of simple carbohydrates and fats, you need to make sure you eat a balanced diet. A report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes that an important part of healthy eating is getting enough of the five basic food groups in your daily diet.
The recommended number of servings from each of the five basic food groups are found on the Food Guide Pyramid developed by the United States Dietary Association (USDA) and the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The pyramid recommends:
Milk, yogurt, and cheese group-2 to 3 servings a day
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, and Nuts group-2 to 3 servings a day
Fruit group-2 to 4 servings a day
Vegetable group-3 to 5 servings a day
Bread, cereal, rice and pasta group-6 to 11 servings a day
Keep these recommended servings in mind as you choose your foods. But also read labels on food products to determine how much saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber, and certain nutrients are found in each serving. Remember to strive for a daily intake of the recommended Daily Value for carbohydrates, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Credits: American Osteopathic Association
Read more at: http://www.osteopathic.org/
